Deferred prosecution agreements

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
This Overview signposts key resources on deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs), including legislation, prosecutorial guidance, judicial decisions and practical guidance materials.

DPAs are a principal tool for resolving corporate economic crime in England and Wales. Under Schedule 17 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013, the SFO or CPS may invite an organisation (not an individual) to enter a DPA for specified economic offences. A DPA avoids conviction while imposing terms such as a financial penalty, disgorgement, compensation, cooperation and compliance improvements, subject to court approval.

Practitioners should understand eligibility and offence coverage; the evidential and public interest tests in the SFO/CPS DPA Code of Practice; and the staged procedure from confidential negotiations to preliminary hearing in private and final hearing. The court must be satisfied that a DPA is in the interests of justice and that its terms are fair, reasonable and proportionate, with publication of the judgment and statement of facts.

Key practical issues include penalty assessment by reference to Sentencing Council guidelines; monitorship and reporting; self - reporting and cooperation (including treatment of privilege and witness accounts); parallel prosecutions of individuals; cross - border coordination and information...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Existing user? Sign-in TAKE A FREE TRIAL
Powered by Lexis+®
Latest Corporate Crime News

Open justice set against risk of criminal prejudice (Various Claimants v Entain Plc)

Corporate Crime analysis: In Various Claimants v Entain Plc, the High Court considered whether expanded public access to documents under CPR PD 51ZH...

HMCTS publishes position statement on judicial use of AI

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published a position statement on the judicial use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), setting out expectations...

OFSI updates UK Financial Sanctions FAQs to clarify specific licence status following delisting

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has updated its UK Financial Sanctions FAQs, adding FAQ 205 on the status of specific licences...

Court of Appeal overturns six LIBOR and EURIBOR fraud convictions

The Court of Appeal has overturned the convictions of Jonathan Mathew, Jay Merchant, Alex Pabon, Philippe Moryoussef, Colin Bermingham and Christian...

View Corporate Crime by content type :  
News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Popular documents

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?What is an appeal?An appeal in insolvency proceedings is no different to an appeal in normal litigation. An appeal will be allowed only if the appeal court is satisfied that the decision of the lower court was 'wrong' or 'unjust because of a

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some point

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claimsContributory negligence is a partial defence which can lead to a discount in damages.Other defences may also be relevant. See Practice Notes: Did the claimant consent to the risk of injury? and Was the claimant involved in an illegal activity?If a
Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?What is an appeal?An appeal in insolvency proceedings is no different to an appeal in normal litigation. An appeal will be allowed only if the appeal court is satisfied that the decision of the lower court was 'wrong' or 'unjust because of a

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some point

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claimsContributory negligence is a partial defence which can lead to a discount in damages.Other defences may also be relevant. See Practice Notes: Did the claimant consent to the risk of injury? and Was the claimant involved in an illegal activity?If a